Madhu Kinnar Was Just Elected India's First Transgender Mayor

Before winning the historic election, she earned a living by dancing and singing in trains.

On January 4, Madhu Kinnar made history by becoming India's first transgender mayor in Chhattisgarh's Raigarh Municipal Corporation.

NDTV Video / Via youtube.com

Madhu, who was an independent candidate, beat out her closest competition, the Bharatiya Janata Party's Mahaveer Guruji, by 4,537 votes, NDTV reported.

"People have shown faith in me. I consider this win as love and blessings of people for me. I'll put in my best efforts to accomplish their dreams," said Kinnar after her electoral victory.

Madhu completed her studies in the eight grade, after which she began taking up odd jobs and made a living by putting up dance and musical performances on trains.

"I only spent Rs. 60,000-70,000 from my earnings during my campaign. It was the public support that encouraged me to enter the poll fray for the first time and because of their support only, I emerged as the winner," she added.

The Congress Party reportedly described her successful candidacy as "BJP's loss, not Madhu's win."

"There was no Modi wave in Raigarh this time. People of Raigarh were fed up with the corruption of BJP, hence they voted for Madhu," said Raigarh district Congress President Narendra Negi. "It is not Madhu Kinnar's victory, but it's a loss of BJP."

"We accept the decision of people," said BJP district president Rajesh Sharma.